A number of Beltway Boxers were in action in bouts throughout the country on Saturday, April 24th. Here is a recap:
Although Laurel, MD super middleweight Demond "D'Best At It" Nicholson was able to stop the first-round knockout streak of his opponent "The Chosen One" Edgar Berlanga of Brooklyn, NY, he was unable to get the victory, losing an eight-round unanimous decision at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, FL. The bout was the co-feature of a card televised by ESPN.
Berlanga didn't land a heavy punch during the first round and that ended the streak. However, he would knock the game Nicholson down four times during the bout. To his credit, Nicholson showed a lot of heart in making it to the final round. Nicholson's record falls to 23-4-1, 20 KO's while Berlanga is now 17-0, 16 KO's.
At the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA, Jeter Promotions of Odenton, MD ventured into the City Of Brotherly Love with not one, but two boxing cards -- an afternoon and evening session, and both had sellout crowds.
The Beltway Boxers that appeared on the evening session included Baltimore, MD featherweight Brandon "The Hitter" Chambers scored a third-round stoppage over Jonathan Gray of Waldorf, MD. Chambers landed a solid straight right hand that put Gray down to the canvas in the third. Gray beat the count but he couldn't continue. The bout was stopped at 1:20. Chambers remains undefeated at 4-0-1, with two KO's. Gray is 0-2.
Owings Mills, MD heavyweight Colby Madison knocked out Antwaun Tubbs of Cincinnati, OH in the second round. Madison dropped Tubbs in the second with a right hand that stopped the contest at 1:57. Madison is now 9-2-2, six KO's while Tubbs drops to 5-15, two KO's.
Debuting Baltimore lightweight Evan Harker lost a four-round unanimous decision to equally debuting Josh Clark of Fridley, MN by way of Ecuador. Harker, a native of Nova Scotia, Canada, lost by scores of 39-36 across the board.
Capitol Heights, MD super bantamweight Jaqeem Henderson won a four-round unanimous decision over Jeffrey Williams of Philadelphia. Both boxers participated in their first pro contests. Henderson would win by 39-37 scores from all three judges.
In other bouts on the evening card, Woodhaven, NY welterweight Daniel "El Gallo" Gonzalez won a six-round unanimous decision over Evencii "Prize Fighter" Dixon of Lancaster, PA. Gonzalez would win by scores of 60-54 and 59-55 (twice) Gonzalez is 20-2-1, seven KO's. Dixon drops to 10-26-2, five KO's.
Debuting lightweight Raymond "The Scientist" Cuadrado of Ridgewood, NY needed just 45 seconds to knockout Alexis Chavarria of Houston, TX. Cuadrado knocked down Chavarria twice before the bout was stopped. Chavarria is 1-2.
Philadelphia super middleweight Christopher Brooker scored a second-round TKO over Damion Hill of Brooklyn Park, MN. Brooker would drop Hill with a barrage of punches in the second round followed by a series of left hooks to knock Hill down again. The bout ended at 1:41. Brooker raised his record to 15-7, six KO's while Hill falls to 4-14.
The afternoon session was interesting for Beltway Boxers. Three competed and two lost by knockout. Baltimore middleweight Stephon "The Surgeon" Morris lost by second-round TKO to Dewayne Williams of Philadelphia. Morris would suffer three knockdowns in the second before the bout was stopped at 2:18. Morris, who competed in his first bout since June of 2017, falls to 4-2, three KO's. Williams's record evens at 3-3, three KO's.
Debuting junior middleweight Victor Williams of DC by way of Oklahoma needed only 50 seconds to knock out Winchester, VA junior middleweight Leonidas Fowlkes. Williams dropped Flowers with a big overhand right and then pressured him until the bout was stopped. Fowlkes, a native of Baltimore, is now 2-2. Williams played college football at Dartmouth College.
Other bouts on the matinee session saw Orange, NJ super lightweight Michael Lee score a third-round TKO over Roy McGill of Harrisburg, PA. The bout was stopped at 2:26. Lee is now 8-1, six KO's. McGill falls to 6-5, three KO's.
Bronx, NY super middleweight Jahvel Joseph remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision victory over Carl Murphy of Harrisburg, PA. Joseph won by shutout (40-36) on all three cards to raise his record to 4-0, one KO. Murphy is now 2-3, two KO's.
Orange, NJ welterweight Steve Moore knocked down Phillip Davis of Worcester, MA twice en route to a four-round unanimous decision win. Moore would use right hands to drop Davis in the first and third rounds and win by scores of 38-36 (twice) and 38-37. Moore is now 4-8, three KO's while Davis is now 2-4-1.
Englishtown, NJ featherweight John Leonardo knocked out Willie Anderson of Paulsboro, NJ with the first punch he threw -- an overhand right. The bout was over in just 14 seconds. Leonard is now 1-0-1, one KO while Anderson is 0-5.
Welterweight Nicky "The Bull" Vitone of Pinebrook, NJ battled Matt Gaver of California to a four-round majority draw. Vitone would win on Judge Dave Braslow's card, 39-37. However, judges Adam Friscia and John Poturaj saw the bout a draw at 38-38. Vitone is now 4-0-1, four KO's while Gaver is 1-5-2.
Jeter Promotions consist of the husband and wife team of Tony and Christen Jeter. The matchmaker was Nick Tiberi.
More local boxers were on a card in Vienna, WVA. Baltimore super welterweight "Bazooka" Joe Veazey scored a second-round TKO over the debuting Nelson Lopez of Fairmont, WVA. No word on the time of the stoppage. Veazey is now 3-0, two KO's.
BATB is also hearing reports that locals Charles Johnson of Upper Marlboro, MD and Tyrell Boyd of Baltimore won their bouts but there are no details on those contests.
